{"id":375620,"date":"2018-05-11T09:48:05","date_gmt":"2018-05-11T14:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/ohio-law\/ohio-child-support-modification.html"},"modified":"2025-05-06T13:48:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T18:48:00","slug":"ohio-child-support-modification","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/ohio-law\/ohio-child-support-modification.html","title":{"rendered":"Ohio Child Support Modification"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ohio Child Support Modification<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Ohio family law courts base the amount of child support on the parents’ income and the child’s needs. If either parent needs to change the child support order, they can request an administrative hearing with the Child Support Enforcement Agency<\/a> (CSEA). Parents can also request modification of child support orders through the family law court.<\/blockquote>\r\n

Modifying child support payments <\/a>is not as simple as asking for a change in payments. The CSEA reviews all support orders every 36 months. For other reviews, the requesting party must show a "substantial change" in the obligor’s or obligee’s income or the child’s needs that justifies a change in support (ORC \u00a7 3119.79<\/a>).<\/p>\r\n

Ohio child support guidelines<\/a> use a formula that combines the parents’ gross income and medical support (such as employer health insurance) and subtracts required deductions like income taxes and union dues. The remainder is the basis of child support obligation.<\/p>\r\n

Ohio Child Support Modification Rules<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

You can make child support modification requests through CSEA or the courts. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods.<\/p>\r\n

CSEA Review<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

CSEA reviews orders every 36 months (ORC \u00a7 3119.70<\/a>). You can request an administrative review if one of the following is true:<\/b><\/p>\r\n